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Generator oil change

Fifty4F100
Explorer
Explorer
I need to change the oil in my generator before we go to the Smoky Mountains in a couple of weeks. I've tried some searches to see if I can find out a few particulars.

1.) My owners manual states in my climate I could use regular 30w oil. Does anybody use a synthetic equivalent? I don't think I've seen synthetic in 30w.

2.) I can't find any reference to what oil filter to use. Do I need to take it off and try to cross reference it at Auto Zone.

I have a Onan Marquis 5500 on my 99 Holiday Rambler.
Glenn in TN
2008 Ford F150 King Ranch
2012 Allegro Breeze BR32
2017 Mini Cooper (future toad)
16 REPLIES 16

Fifty4F100
Explorer
Explorer
M GO BLUE wrote:
Fifty4F100 wrote:
JC2 wrote:
The purchase of the oil filter wrench for removal would be a smart purchase.


Filter is off.

Unless the Onan stuff is way overpriced, that's what I'll buy. I always put Motorcraft on Fords and AC/Delco on Chevys.


Still will need the Onan wrench next time you change the oil...good thing to have


Why?
Glenn in TN
2008 Ford F150 King Ranch
2012 Allegro Breeze BR32
2017 Mini Cooper (future toad)

M_GO_BLUE1
Explorer
Explorer
Fifty4F100 wrote:
JC2 wrote:
The purchase of the oil filter wrench for removal would be a smart purchase.


Filter is off.

Unless the Onan stuff is way overpriced, that's what I'll buy. I always put Motorcraft on Fords and AC/Delco on Chevys.


Still will need the Onan wrench next time you change the oil...good thing to have



2005 Chevy Silverado 3500 dually CC/LB Duramax/Allison


2008 Jayco Designer 35RLTS fifth wheel


Onan 5500W Marquis Gold gas generator (HGJAB - 1038D)

M_GO_BLUE1
Explorer
Explorer
I use 15w-40 in mine year round...



2005 Chevy Silverado 3500 dually CC/LB Duramax/Allison


2008 Jayco Designer 35RLTS fifth wheel


Onan 5500W Marquis Gold gas generator (HGJAB - 1038D)

Fifty4F100
Explorer
Explorer
JC2 wrote:
The purchase of the oil filter wrench for removal would be a smart purchase.


Filter is off.

Unless the Onan stuff is way overpriced, that's what I'll buy. I always put Motorcraft on Fords and AC/Delco on Chevys.
Glenn in TN
2008 Ford F150 King Ranch
2012 Allegro Breeze BR32
2017 Mini Cooper (future toad)

JC2
Explorer
Explorer
I tend to keep a simple process simple. Whatever the manual recommends for your gennie is what you should use. Ours calls for 15w-40(Good quality Dino oil such as Shell Rotella) and I have always used that with 0 problems. The only exception for me would be if I were to be in extremely cold weather then most manuals will suggest a lighter weight oil. To me, the use of anything else such as synthetic oil seems to be a waste of money as you should be changing the oil yearly anyway. The purchase of the oil filter wrench for removal would be a smart purchase.
2010 Newmar Dutch Aire 4304,Cummins ISL 425hp,Spartan MM Chassis,2013 Chev Equinox AWD Towed,Ready Brute Elite TowBar/Brake,FMCA #402879,SKP#120487

Dutch_12078
Explorer II
Explorer II
I use the same Mobil 1 10-40 High Mileage Formula oil in my Onan Marquis 7KW generator that I run in the Ford 460 coach engine. 1100 hours on the genny so far and running perfectly.
Dutch
2001 GBM Landau 34' Class A
F53 chassis, Triton V10, TST TPMS
Bigfoot Automatic Leveling System
2011 Toyota RAV4 4WD/Remco pump
ReadyBrute Elite tow bar/Blue Ox baseplate

Fifty4F100
Explorer
Explorer
Turns out there is a Cummins/Onan dealer down from my work. I'll go by there tomorrow and check it out. If that doesn't work out (and it should) I will check out the NAPA filter.

I have an adjustable oil filter wrench I bought several years ago when I got tired of buying a new wrench with every new car that showed up. It has 3 fingers that collapse on the filter and spins it off. Fits fine. But more oil came out of the generator that I thought. Looks like at least 4 quarts. Does that sound right?
Glenn in TN
2008 Ford F150 King Ranch
2012 Allegro Breeze BR32
2017 Mini Cooper (future toad)

427435
Explorer
Explorer
Koop wrote:
427435 wrote:

Besides the 15w-50 oil, Mobil also has a 5w-40 turbo diesel oil that is also rated for spark engine use. Either would be a good choice or similar viscosity from a reputable supplier. Read that to mean Shell, Amoco etc. but not "boutique" brands like Amsoil, Red Line etc.


Looked like good advice but you lost me with the last paragraph. Oil wars are sure to ensue!


๐Ÿ™‚ :E ๐Ÿ™‚
Mark

2000 Itasca Suncruiser 35U on a Ford chassis, 80,000 miles
2003 Ford Explorer toad with Ready Brake supplemental brakes,
Ready Brute tow bar, and Demco base plate.

Koop
Explorer
Explorer
427435 wrote:

Besides the 15w-50 oil, Mobil also has a 5w-40 turbo diesel oil that is also rated for spark engine use. Either would be a good choice or similar viscosity from a reputable supplier. Read that to mean Shell, Amoco etc. but not "boutique" brands like Amsoil, Red Line etc.


Looked like good advice but you lost me with the last paragraph. Oil wars are sure to ensue!
Mike
2003 Alpine Coach 40MDTS
400HP Cummins ISL

Happy_Jim
Explorer
Explorer
I have an Onan 5500 gas generator in my MH. I use regular 10w/30 oil and use a Fram 3600 oil filter. This filter is longer and can be removed with a normal strap type oil filter wrench. I have 72 hrs on the Gen and it is doing fine.

Not suggesting what to do but this is what I use.

Jim
Travel Safe - Enjoy
Happy Jim
1999 Holiday Rambler Vacationer
2006 Chevy HHR Toad

427435
Explorer
Explorer
Perhaps picky, but there is no such thing as a winter rated 30 weight oil which is what 30w would stand for. But we knew you really meant 30 weight oil------not 30w.

The reason air cooled engine manufacturers often recommend a dine 30 weight oil is that a 10w-30 dino oil will shear down to a 10w-25 or 10w-20 oil after a few hours of use. That could be too thin to lube the engine when under heavy load and in a warm ambient. Their marketing people don't want to burden their customers with a multi-weight synthetic oi (that won't shear down) because of the added expense.

Choosing a good synthetic oil with a multi-vis rating will provide easy starting and quick lube after a start. Meanwhile the higher weight viscosity won't shear down and continue to provide good lube when the engine is hot.

My sons had a commercial lawn mowing business to pay their college expenses. They had 61" and 72" mowers with Kohler air-cooled engines and I used Mobil 1 15w-50 oil in them. I kept the 72" mower when they quit the business and got "real" jobs. It has over 3000 hours on it and running fine.

Besides the 15w-50 oil, Mobil also has a 5w-40 turbo diesel oil that is also rated for spark engine use. Either would be a good choice or similar viscosity from a reputable supplier. Read that to mean Shell, Amoco etc. but not "boutique" brands like Amsoil, Red Line etc.
Mark

2000 Itasca Suncruiser 35U on a Ford chassis, 80,000 miles
2003 Ford Explorer toad with Ready Brake supplemental brakes,
Ready Brute tow bar, and Demco base plate.

22_Over
Explorer
Explorer
Napa Gold Filter is part# 7398 made by WIX which is what I always use. I have never heard of putting 0w40 in any ONAN generator. It isn't a 4-wheeler/ATV. Cumminsonan website has a chart of what oil to use depending upon the temperatures you will be running it in ie. 30w for 32-100 degrees.

othertonka
Explorer
Explorer
The filter Onan number for the 5500 genset is 122-0836, and you will need the filter wrench if you want to have any chance to remove the old one as it is recessed and not assessable to a strap type wrench. The part number for the wrench is 420-577. Here is a link to what it looks like.
Onan filter wrench
Othertonka
2004 Southwind 32VS 8.1 Workhorse chassis
2002 CRV Toad
U. S. Gear Unified brake system
Retired Fire Captain, SFD

crasster
Explorer II
Explorer II
I just use HD30 from Supertec from Walmart. Good stuff, packaged by mobil. High Detergent too. Let's your genny start out with protection.
4 whopping cylinders on Toyota RV's. Talk about great getting good MPG. Also I have a very light foot on the pedal. I followed some MPG advice on Livingpress.com and I now get 22 MPG! Not bad for a home on wheels.